His NCAA career record stands at 540 blocked shots.
That's 540 shots that never had a chance, that Mississippi State didn't have to worry about whether they would find the basket and do harm.
Jarvis Varnado, college basketball's career blocks leader and two-time SEC defensive player of the year, has definitely earned his scholarship.
But wait: Varnado isn't even getting a scholarship any more.
The guy trying to swat away Tennessee shots Saturday night in Humphrey Coliseum is the nation's most valuable walk-on.
He voluntarily gave up his scholarship last May so Mississippi State could add blue-chip freshman Renardo Sidney. Varnado's dad took out a loan to cover his senior's tuition.
Scholarship or not, Vardnado's impact hasn't diminished.
"You've got to keep a body on him,'' UT coach Bruce Pearl said Thursday, "because if you allow him to rotate over, he's going to block shots and change shots.
"You've just got to try to play him physically.''
The 16th-ranked Vols (22-7, 10-5 SEC) face the Bulldogs (21-9, 9-6) at 6 p.m. EST in an ESPN telecast of the regular-season finale for both teams.
Varnado, a 6-foot-9, 230-pound native of Brownsville, Tenn., will be playing his last game in The Hump - and trying to reject enough UT shots to keep State's fading NCAA tournament hopes alive.
The Vols know plenty about Varnado. Thirteen of his career blocks have come against UT, including six in last year's SEC tournament championship game, won 64-61 by the Bulldogs.
Varnado's 146 blocks this season would rank him fifth in the SEC team standings. He broke the NCAA career record (535) last week.
He also leads the SEC in rebounding at 10.8 per game. But it's his rejection potential that impacts opponents and figures in why Mississippi State leads the league in field-goal defense at 38.0 percent.
"He's always back there,'' Pearl said. "He won't go out on the perimeter much.''
Tennessee has tried to lure Varnado away from the basket with Wayne Chism, a 3-point threat, as bait.
"But because of the way we're playing right now, with Wayne at power forward, he'll match up with Brian Williams and Kenny Hall more,'' Pearl said.
"So pulling him out on the perimeter is not going to be as big an option as it has been in the past.''
No Sidney: Renardo Sidney, the player for whom Varnado gave up his scholarship, has never been declared eligible by the NCAA. Sidney is a 6-10 McDonald's All-American.
State had better luck with 7-1 recruit John Riek, who was cleared to play after nine games. Riek, unlike Sidney, is a project who has appeared in only five SEC games.
Selby Scout: Pearl and assistant Steve Forbes headed out of town Thursday to watch blue-chip recruit Josh Selby's game in Baltimore, Md.
Selby, a one-time UT commitment, has quietly maintained some level of contact with the Vols since re-opening his recruitment last fall. Kansas, Kentucky and UConn are considered leaders.
Brainy Projection: Something called BracketBrains and run by Stanford University engineers has analyzed data and projected an NCAA tournament bracket.
The Vols are a No. 5 seed in the East, paired against No. 12 seed Notre Dame. Notre Dame's chance of advancing is 50.14 percent compared to 49.86 percent for UT. Sounds as if a free throw, made or missed, could be the difference.
The eggheads give UT only a 20 percent chance to reach the Sweet 16.
UT's new $45 million football…
Images from Larry Murphy's book on…
Smokey undergoes physical therapy at UT
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 45
cobbwebb writes:
selby would look good in orange!!
CoverOrange writes:
You would think at some point earlier in the season MSU would have decided to cut bait on Sidney and given Varnado back his scholarship. I guess you can't hand them out mid-season.
cobbwebb writes:
state will be playing for their postseason life!!! the crowd will be nuts. poise and focus are key!
GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!!!
keepitreal4vols writes:
Does anyone think Vernardo is actually off a "scholarship". Maybe in the NCAA eyes he is not recieving financial aid but I doubt his dad is using money out of own pocket to pay back a loan.
wildcatbasketball writes:
Looks like SEC tourney seedings (if they stand as they are now) Uk vs UT matchup in SEC championship game will not happen. Too bad!! I have said all along that these are the 2 best teams in the SEC but it looks like a semi game between the two if both teams take care of business.
Really wanted a UK-UT matchup for SEC tourney championship!!
Fryinpansvols writes:
I think in the back of our guys minds they still have a little sting from the loss in the SEC Championship game last year. We owe State some payback and hopefully we'll be ready come Saturday night to pay them back. Also, who cares what those nerds at Stanford predict about our Vols only getting a #5 Seed and getting beat by a #12 Seed in Notre Dame. I think our best basketball still lies ahead. GBO and beat State!
rockytopatl writes:
Here's hoping the Vols can finally put together a decent road effort. This has been a great home team but a not so good bunch of road warriors. As for Varnado, I would say Pearl will be working with Brian Williams to keep his big body between Jarvis and our guys trying to take it to the hoop.
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
True enough, just play defense vols...
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
sounds logical to me; what parent could afford those expenses
mocsandvolsfan writes:
nervous...but we should win. Having Wall with some playing time now and Williams back in the swing of things will give us the edge. We still need to go to the basket to win. We can't let Varnado scare us into 3's.
Brillovol writes:
Quite a shame indeed. UT is probably the only team that can beat UK in the tourney. I say Vandy's better overall than we are, but they just don't match up well with UK. Funny, because UT doesn't match up well with Vandy.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Varnado has never been a huge problem for UT..The bigger question is can he score points..MSU is playing themselves out of the big dance and are in true desperation mode!!MSU continues to play well in the sec tournament and their fan base shows up with them
dwa7#337691 writes:
predict:
UT 74
Mis-State 70
volsunited writes:
I was thinking Brandon knight was headed to florida but ky may get him though. Selby aint coming here i would suppose but the guards they got coming in for the 2011 class are lighting it up in the high school playoffs!
orangecountyvols writes:
You're right, and that may very well happen when the emotion of the home court advantage comes into play. Shapes up as a very tough game and it means a lot to both teams.
CrankE writes:
It's time for some payback on MSU. They sat on the bubble last year and made it in thanks to an SEC Tournament Championship, gift wrapped by the zebras.
This year, they again sit on the bubble.
Go out and crush some dreams, Tennessee!!!
eduardo writes:
Not so fast my blue friend....rumor mills are off the charts right now about Selby...Orange is looking like a real possibility!!!
samvol writes:
we win. our bigs just need to stay inside..Kenny and Brian...need to step up and jump high tonight.
Gumby#1381110 writes:
This will be a tough win if we get it!
halloffamebowler writes:
Why does your mind run on gutter thoughts? You do not need the F to speak your thoughts.Plain stupidity on your part.
MSUMatt24 writes:
Good luck this weekend Vols. You will get our best shot with it being Senior night and our last breath at an elusive at large bid.
VolunteerLifer writes:
This game is irrelevant to our place in the final league standings and the league tourney seeding. But the game is critically important to the opponent's post season hopes. It's at their house and its their senior night. So it would stand to reason UT gets beat - and maybe badly.
But losing this game could hurt our national tournament seeding. So if UT loses badly we will know they are not in a postseason mind-set yet, and that will be a bad sign. On the other hand, if they play very tough and/or win, we will know they are getting their post season game face on and will be a force to be reckoned with in the tourney.
Is this a team on a mission, or is this a team not focused on the post season yet? we find out tomorrow night.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Varnado really does not get a lot of fouls on shot-block attempts because of his superior technique. For one thing, he has long arms and is a quick leaper who seldom falls for ball fakes. For another, he jumps straight up and doesn't swipe his arms down. Those two things alone account for most of the fouls other shot-blockers get. Most of his fouls are in rebounding, where his rather slender physique and lack of much help inside cause him to have to fight too hard, for too many minutes, and too often to keep his otherwise rather small team competitive on the boards.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Sounds like a plan to me. The only problem is that MSU plays a lot of perimeter-type players, so Chism would likely have to defend a quicker player and MSU normally shoots so well from outside that a zone isn't a real option for the Vols. So I return to my original thought that UT can't afford to play two big guys at a time against MSU.
This game just IS going to be a serious challenge for the Vols and will put MAJOR pressure on them to play nearly mistake-free ball to win. I hate to say it, but I doubt the Vols can win this one. That is too bad, because a win would be VERY impressive for seeding purposes and the program's national image. I hope I am wrong! GBO!!! TCB!!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Well, tens of thousands of parents all across the country do it every year. If that loan is like most student loans for college, they can take forever to repay it even if Jarvis doesn't just write a check for it out of his future NBA earnings.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Well said; I agree completely with all.
Gumby#1381110 writes:
The key to beating Miss State is hitting the outside shots, especially 3's. If we try scoring a lot on the inside we will lose this game, but CBP is smarter than that. GBO!
1Volunteer writes:
No, there is nothing stupid about bowler's speaking up about this. Why did the poster use just the letter "F" to make his statement instead of a word? Because of the rules of those who own and run the site. But posters find their inventive ways of getting their gutter language into the discussions anyway, showing disrespect to the provider of the cost-free forum and to the readers who prefer communication on a higher plane.
If some want to splatter their speech with references to sexual dominance, private body parts, excrement, etc., when they are in private among friends, that's all right with me. I don't try to stop them, but I recognize that such are either low in intelligence or mentally lazy. The English language is rich enough for any native speaker of average intelligence to emphatically make any "heart-felt" point if he makes the effort to choose his words carefully.
In a public forum such as this, those who use vulgar references may not be stupid or lazy, but rather self-centered and hateful. They intend to coarsen life for everyone who comes within their reach. Others may not be able to stop them, but we do have the opportunity to speak up.
Thanks, halloffamebowler, for your comment. I agree with you.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
I toatally disagree. We are not a team to depend on outside shooting. Lofton and Smith are gone and we have a low team percentage on the outside.
We need to come off the screen some, transition some, pull up short for midrange some...well basically any shot but 3's...unless we get hot.LOL
roobomb writes:
Amen, brother. There are much more creative ways to express one's viewpoint than dropping the f-bomb constantly. Do at your home if you like, but leave it there.
As for the game tonight, I hope we kill them. I just had hernia surgery yesterday, and I don't know that I can take a close one.
Gumby#1381110 writes:
If we depend on Williams and Chism down low then we will get a lot of blocked shots. We will beat them with good outside shooting and a little run and gun IMO.
Gumby#1381110 writes:
I don't think we have to just hit 3's to win, just shoot well from the outside with a few 3's mixed in.
Gumby#1381110 writes:
Where are all the Bama and Gator fans in here during BB season? Seems like they can only talk football, we can talk football and BB.
1vavolfan writes:
Very tough game. Senior night for Varnardo and Stewart, a must win game. This team would have beaten Kentucky there if it had not been for a few bad calls. The Vols biggest wins have all come at home where they feed off of the energy of the crowd. I give us about a 20% chance of winning this one, but it looks like State is doing all it can to back out of the tournament.
VolJunkie writes:
F it ...
Sorry, couldn't resist, I agree with your post. ;)
Go Vols!
VolJunkie writes:
Can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not ... I've put my wife and three kids through college, the last one graduates this May. Whew!
Go Vols!
VolJunkie writes:
I suspect CBP has the team's attention after the Senior Night distractions of Wednesday's win against Arkansas. Saturday's game is a big one from the perspective of momentum and NCAA seeding. Of course this becomes a moot point if UT wins the SECT.
IMO, we will face a tough opponent and tough officiating on the road. Chism will have some early challenges with young Mr. Pearl called upon to put a body on Varnado. SP may foul out of this one but Varnado will know he has been in a game. UT wins a close game and carries some serious "MO" into Nashville.
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Go Vols!
Gumby#1381110 writes:
You are either (A) drunk (B) old as dirt and out of touch with reality (C) dumb as a rock, or (D) all of the above. My guess is D.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Please accept my thanks for that post! I guess the potty-mouths will consider us old fuddy-duddies for objecting to them, but I would take such criticism as a mark of honor, considering the reason and the source.
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
Thx taterhead, now go deep fry yourself...GBO!!
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
So true WD, you were the first to recognize the turd in the punch bowl...Doh!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
The only thing that would keep Jenkins from challenging Chris' record is that Jenkins won't get as much PT or shots in Vandy's system as Chris got in UT's. Jenkins has just about the smoothest, most technically-correct stroke I have seen in years. I loved to watch Chris shoot, but his right elbow flares a little too much for his stroke to be called perfect.
wildcatbasketball writes:
He is an IDIOT...There are so many good professional posts on here and one or two people like this have to ruin it!
We have our share too ...
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Iam a single parent of 10 years;major college tution and room/board I assume are like 2nd mortgages..I struggle with community college costs; Paying for a 4 years at a state college is a pipe dream for me..Kudos to all of you who find the means for this higher learning!!
halloffamebowler writes:
I did not call him down for his thoughts.Just for the stupid language he used.Same goes for your stupidity.
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